Commerce initiates port community systems competition

The U.S. Commerce Department said it has launched a nationwide technology competition to help the country’s seaports and users to develop efficient port information-sharing technologies.    The U.S. Commerce Department said it has launched a nationwide technology competition to help the country’s seaports and users to develop efficient port information-sharing technologies.
   Leading this effort is the department’s industry-based Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC), which will provide recommendations on which maritime cargo status data elements should be used to improve information-sharing at the port-level.
   “The technology competition will involve teams consisting of port users, technology developers, and other stakeholders to develop prototypes for open-source port community system platforms,” Commerce said. “The prototypes will need to utilize the ACSCC’s recommended data elements and to ensure the secure sharing of this data within the stakeholder communities of specific ports. Individual ACSCC members will be invited to provide industry knowledge and guidance to the teams as appropriate.”
   Commerce said it will judge the prototypes and award prizes based on a range of criteria, such as creativity, information security, flexibility and interoperability, and ability to be replicated.
   The department has requested those interested in participating in the competition to submit short proposals to the Office of Secretary by Sept. 9. A date for demonstrations will be set for November.
   Commerce said it will “share the results of the competition with ports and supply chain stakeholders to improve their awareness of effective platforms for their voluntary use and implementation at their discretion,” but “recognizes that ports may select other options based on local circumstances or continue to utilize existing systems at their discretion.”
   Commerce said, “Such IT platforms — often deployed successfully at non-U.S. ports and providing them with a competitive advantage – enable enhanced stakeholder awareness of cargo flow and port operating status, promoting information-sharing and collaboration to improve cargo flow among port community members.”
   The department said it sees these systems as a way to improve the flow of cargo through U.S. ports, especially with the arrival of increasingly larger containerships.
   This call to develop port community systems traces its roots to Commerce’s Regional Port Roundtable held in April at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Speakers at the event urged Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker to promote these types of systems within the country’s ports.